Manikarnika. The main cremation ghat along the River Ganges. A continuous daily round of cremations, conducted on any one of four or five platformed sites situated left and right of a central staircase running down from the main riverside thoroughfare of the city down to the Ganges itself. At any time, chanting families descend the stairs, bearing a stretcher with the bound body of a deceased family member, down to the fetid river to cleanse the corpse, submerging it, sousing it, scooping sacred Ganges water and pouring it over the covered face of the dead in preparation for the imminent cremation. Cremation here, at the side of the Ganges in the ancient city of Varanasi, or Kashi, or Benares, means moksha, the release of the soul from the cycle of rebirth. To cremate one’s family member here is the ultimate demonstration of filial respect.
This photo shows a ritual priest, responsible for overseeing the cremations on that day, taking a rest as a body burns behind and mourners, covering their mouths and noses against the smoke of the ongoing cremations, leave the site in front of him.
Leave a Reply